By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

January 29, 2013-If you would like to find the newest players in Major League Soccer from the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), then look for the Union label. The Philadelphia Union, 10-18-6 in 2012, selected Don Anding of Amity Harbor in the MLS Super Draft plus added Jake Keegan of Stormville and Leonardo Fernandes of North Babylon in the MLS Supplemental Draft.

Anding made his reputation as a big-time goal-scorer for Northeastern University last fall. The forward scored 11 goals in his first three seasons, but enjoyed a stellar 14-goal tally last fall. He was a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist as well as being a NSCAA Third Team All-American selection.

Anding won a State Open Cup title with the Albertson Academy of the Long Island Junior Soccer League in 2008. He was also a standout for Chaminade High School in Mineola, being honored as an All-League and All-New York State selection plus a Newsday All-Long Island second team choice.

During Keegan’s illustrious college career, the forward’s 28 goals and 69 points are both Binghamton University program records during its 12-year NCAA Division I era. He set the record on September 3, 2012 in a 2-1 victory against Army at West Point.

"When you grow up, watching MLS, it’s always a dream. It’s a great feeling (on being drafted)," Keegan said. "It’s a credit to the Binghamton program as a whole, the coaches, and the players that I was recognized enough and I was seen enough to be drafted."

In 2011, while playing for the Westchester Flames in the Professional Development League (PDL), Keegan continued to add to his impressive list of accomplishments, being named PDL Rookie of the Year and also being named to the All-Conference and All-League teams. He was a huge bright spot for the Flames, tallying 16 goals in 16 games to take the league goal-scoring crown, accounting for 64% of Westchester’s goals in 2011. He also finished third in the league in points with 34.

Keegan played for the East Fishkill Thunder of the East Hudson Youth Soccer League for 12 years and in the ENYYSA Olympic Development Program for five years. The Thunder captured both the State and Regional Cup crowns in 2009 on their way to a third place finish in the US Youth Soccer National Championships.

Fernandes, the 2012 BigAppleSoccer.com men’s college player of the year, enjoyed a memorable season for Stony Brook University.

He became the America East conference’s first-ever three-time midfielder of the year. Fernandes was ranked second among America East leaders in points (22), tied for third in goals (8) and was second in assists (6). As the program’s most decorated player ever, Fernandes is the all-time leader in points with 79. He also ranks first in goals (31) and assists (17) in Stony Brook’s Division 1 history in both categories.

In December, he became the first Seawolves player honored as a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-American with a Second Team selection.

Fernandes played his youth soccer for B/W Gottschee of the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League.

All three standouts from ENYYSA became the first players from their college to be drafted by Major League Soccer. The trio have headed to YSC Sports in Wayne, Pennsylvania, where the Union’s pre-season training is already underway.

With 123,843 youth soccer players––68,587 boys and 55,256 girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 12 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Special Children. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer Association. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.